Published 4:00 am, Wednesday, August 5, 1998

Ninth inning, two outs, runners at first and second - boom, game-tying single to right. Game goes to extra innings.

Bonds is in a nice little groove, going 9-for-20 the last five games and hinting that he's on the verge of something special, one of those patented, carry-the-team efforts the Giants desperately have desired. With 49 remaining games in this wild-card season, it's a perfect time for Bonds to show the league the best side of Barry Ballgame.

But Bonds won't always be around for his teammates. Before Tuesday's 7-6 loss to the Mets - Jose Mesa walked in the winning run with the bases loaded in the 10th inning - Bonds was handed a three-game suspension for his part in Sunday's benches-clearing brawl in Philadelphia. The suspension is supposed to begin Wednesday night, but it'll be delayed because Bonds is appealing.

"We're going to miss him. He's the best player in the league," said Charlie Hayes, the only other Giant suspended this year. "Even when he doesn't get hits, his presence helps us. Without him, we've got to step it up."

"I think we've got the horses to do it," said Mark Gardner, who threw five shutout innings before being replaced in the sixth, when the Mets tied the game with four runs. "We'll definitely be playing at a disadvantage, but I think this team can handle it."

Bonds remains the centerpiece of the Giants' roster. He's the leader in home runs with 21 and RBIs with 79, and he improved his average 10 points the last five games, to .279.

Bonds never has missed more than four games in one season as a Giant. But this year will be different. He has played 109 of 113 games.

If Bonds carries through with his appeal, his case would be heard by National League president Leonard Coleman, the same guy who handed down the sentence, and Coleman possibly could reduce it by a game, as he did to Jeff Kent's three-day penalty last season.

The other option, which seems more feasible, is for Bonds to withdraw his appeal immediately before a series that's less significant than the current one against the Mets, a wild-card rival.

If Bonds withdraws his appeal before, say, the series against the last-place Marlins - Aug. 14-16 at Candlestick - the damage could be minimal. It would be similar to Hayes pulling back his appeal before last week's series in Montreal; Hayes missed the first two games.

"Barry is a huge part of the team, but there are crises and adjustments every club must overcome and this is one of those hurdles," pitcher Orel Hershiser said. "It's not like we don't get to replace Barry. We get to play a guy in left field and give him four at-bats. Who's to say the replacement won't get a couple of hits? He might not be as consistent or great over the long haul, but he could fill in and have a great day or two."

The Giants have a sudden surplus of outfielders. Darryl Hamilton was traded to Colorado, but the Giants have versatile Ellis Burks, who played center for three games before moving to right on Tuesday. There's also Stan Javier, Joe Carter and Marvin Benard, who was robbed of a hit by right fielder Lenny Harris in his only at-bat Wednesday. Benard was 12-for-18 in the previous four games.

"You never want to be in the position to have Barry out of the lineup, unless he's resting," general manager Brian Sabean said. "But it might be one of those things that, with the depth we have now, we'd want it sooner rather than later. We're a lot more capable of withstanding it now than we were previously."

In six years with the Giants, Bonds never had been suspended. Then again, he never charged the mound as he did when Ricky Bottalico plunked him in the right leg Sunday. Bottalico also was suspended, for four games.

Bonds said his fine was the same as Bottalico's, $,1,000, nothing much for a guy with an $8.9 million salary. The Giants will continue paying his salary during the layoff, approximately $50,000 per day.

"It's unfortunate. It's not something to be proud of," Bonds said. "I don't like to fight. I don't think anyone likes to fight. We're too damn old to be fighting. It's ridiculous. There's no need for it, but you have to protect yourself.

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"The unfortunate thing is, the pitcher has a weapon in his hand and could end a career if he hits you in the right spot."

The unfortunate thing for the Giants is that at some point soon they won't have their best weapon in hand.&lt;

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